Mattocks called up to Jamaican national team for upcoming World Cup qualifiers

August 29, 201312:08 PM PDT

VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC announced today that striker Darren Mattocks has been called up to the Jamaican men’s national team for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Panama and Costa Rica.

Currently in the midst of the fourth and final round of the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, otherwise known as “The Hex,” Jamaica will visit Panama September 6 at Rommel Fernandez Stadium before hosting Costa Rica September 10 at Kingston Independence Park.

Mattocks will depart for Jamaica Sunday night following Whitecaps FC's match against Chivas USA and return to Vancouver on September 11. As a result, he will be unavailable for Vancouver's September 7 match at FC Dallas.

The 22-year-old striker has earned seven caps for the Jamaican senior national team after making his debut August 15, 2012 in an international friendly against El Salvador. Most recently, the Portmore, Jamaica native played 28 minutes in Jamaica’s 1-0 loss to Mexico June 4 in a previous World Cup qualifier.

Selected second overall in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Mattocks enjoyed a formidable rookie season in which he won the Domenic Mobilio Golden Boot as the 'Caps top goalscorer with nine goals in all competitions. The former University of Akron standout has scored three goals in 15 MLS appearances this season.

The top three teams in CONCACAF will qualify directly for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, while the fourth-placed side will play a home-and-home series with New Zealand in November to determine the final entrant. After six matches, The Reggae Boyz current sit at the bottom of the table with two points, trailing fifth-place Panama by four points. They will conclude the fourth stage of qualifying in October with fixtures against the United States and Honduras.